Surgical stapling device

Abstract

A surgical device is disclosed which includes a handle portion, a central body portion and a SULU. The SULU includes a proximal body portion, an intermediate pivot member and a tool assembly. The intermediate pivot member is pivotally secured to the proximal body portion about a first pivot axis and the tool assembly is pivotally secured to the intermediate pivot member about a second pivot axis which is orthogonal to the first pivot axis. The SULU includes a plurality of articulation links which are operably connected to the tool assembly by non-rigid links. The articulation links are adapted to releasably engage articulation links positioned in the central body portion. The body portion articulation links are connected to an articulation actuator which is supported for omni-directional movement to effect articulation of the tool assembly about the first and second axes. The handle portion includes a spindle and barrel assembly drive mechanism for advancing and retracting a drive member positioned in the tool assembly. In one embodiment, the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical device comprising: a handle portion including a body defining a stationary handle, a movable trigger, a spindle supported within the body and a barrel assembly slidably positioned about the spindle, the spindle defining a first guide track for slidably receiving a first rack, the first rack being operably connected to a drive member of the surgical device, the barrel assembly including a first pawl which is selectively movable from a first position engaging the first rack to a second position disengaged from the first rack, the movable trigger being operably associated with the barrel assembly such that movement of the movable trigger effects axial movement of the barrel assembly in relation to the spindle, wherein when the first pawl is in its first position, movement of the barrel assembly in a first axial direction effects corresponding axial movement of the first rack to effect movement of the drive member of the surgical device. 
     
     
       2. A surgical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spindle defines a second guide track for slidably receiving a second rack, the second rack being operably connected to the drive member of the surgical device, the barrel assembly including a second pawl which selectively movable from a first position engaging the second rack to a second position disengaged from the second rack, wherein when the second pawl is in its first position, axial movement of the barrel assembly in relation to the spindle in a first direction effects corresponding axial movement of the second rack to effect axial movement of the drive member of the surgical device. 
     
     
       3. A surgical device according to  claim 2 , further including a first shift ring assembly supported in the handle portion, the first shift ring assembly being operably associated with the first and second pawls and being movable from a first position in which the first pawl is in its first position and the second pawl is in its second position to a second position in which the first pawl is in its second position and the second pawl is in its first position. 
     
     
       4. A surgical device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first rack is connected to the second rack by a pinion, wherein movement of the first rack in one direction effects movement of the second rack in an opposite direction. 
     
     
       5. A surgical device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first shift ring assembly includes an outer ring and an inner ring, the inner ring being positioned about the barrel assembly and having a first rod extending across the inner ring through a first cam slot formed in the first pawl and a second rod extending across the inner ring through a second cam slot in the second pawl, wherein the inner ring is slidable in relation to the barrel assembly to move the first and second pawls between their first and second positions. 
     
     
       6. A surgical device according to  claim 5 , wherein the spindle, the barrel assembly and the inner ring are rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the spindle. 
     
     
       7. A surgical device according to  claim 6 , wherein the outer ring is positioned about the inner ring of the first shift ring assembly within the body of the handle portion, the outer ring being rotatably fixed in relation to the body of the handle portion and including a spring arm having an inner protrusion dimensioned to be received in an annular recess formed in the inner ring, the spring arm being inwardly deformable to position the inner protrusion of the spring arm into the annular recess of the inner ring such that linear movement of the outer ring is translated to linear movement of the inner ring. 
     
     
       8. A surgical device according to  claim 7 , further including a cam surface on an inner wall of the body of the handle portion, the spring arm further including an outer abutment member, wherein engagement between the abutment member and the cam surface urges the inner protrusion of the spring arm into the annular recess of the inner ring when the outer ring of the first shift ring assembly is moved linearly in relation to the barrel assembly to translate movement of the outer ring to movement of the inner ring. 
     
     
       9. A surgical device comprising: a handle portion including a movable trigger, and a first guide track for slidably receiving a first rack, the first rack being operably connected to a drive member of the surgical device, the handle portion further including a first pawl, the first pawl being selectively movable from a first position in relation to the first rack to a second position in relation to the first rack, the handle portion further including a movable shift assembly having a member that moves the first pawl from the first position to the second position, the movable trigger being operably associated with the first pawl, wherein when the first pawl is in its first position, the first pawl effects corresponding axial movement of the first rack to effect movement of the drive member of the surgical device, the surgical device further comprising a second track for slidably receiving a second rack, the handle portion including a second pawl which is selectively movable from a first position in relation to the second rack to a second position in relation to the second rack, wherein when the second pawl is in its first position, movement of the movable trigger effects corresponding axial movement of the second rack to effect axial movement of the drive member of the surgical device. 
     
     
       10. A surgical device according to  claim 9 , wherein the shift assembly is operably associated with the first pawl and the second pawl and is movable to move the second pawl between the first position and the second position of the second pawl. 
     
     
       11. A surgical device according to  claim 10 , wherein the first rack is connected to the second rack by a pinion, wherein movement of the first rack in one direction effects movement of the second rack in an opposite direction. 
     
     
       12. A surgical device according to  claim 9 , wherein the shift assembly includes a first rod extending through a cam slot formed in the first pawl, the shift assembly being slidable to move the first pawl. 
     
     
       13. A surgical device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a spindle defining the first track and second track, the spindle being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the spindle. 
     
     
       14. A surgical device according to  claim 9 , wherein the shift assembly has a portion that extends through a slot in the handle portion and available for manipulation by an operator of the device. 
     
     
       15. A surgical device comprising: a handle portion including a movable trigger, and a track for slidably receiving a rack, the rack being operably connected to a drive member of the surgical device, the handle portion further including a pawl, the handle portion further including a movable shift assembly with a first position, a second position, and a member, the member preventing the pawl from engaging the rack when the shift assembly is in the second position and allowing the pawl to engage the rack when the shift assembly is in the first position, the movable trigger being operably associated with the pawl, wherein when the shift assembly is in its first position, the pawl effects corresponding axial movement of the rack to effect movement of the drive member of the surgical device, the surgical device further comprising a toothed member for retracting the drive member when the shift assembly is in the second position and the pawl is prevented from engaging the rack. 
     
     
       16. A surgical device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a movable indicator and having indicia for indicating the stage of operation of the device. 
     
     
       17. A surgical device according to  claim 15 , wherein the pawl has a cam for pivoting the pawl in relation to the rack. 
     
     
       18. A surgical device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a rod engaging the pawl, the shift assembly being slidable to move the rod in relation to the pawl. 
     
     
       19. A surgical device according to  claim 18 , further comprising a cam slot formed in the pawl, the rod extending through the cam slot. 
     
     
       20. A surgical device according to  claim 15 , wherein the shift assembly has a portion that extends through a slot in the handle portion and available for manipulation by an operator of the device. 
     
     
       21. A surgical device according to  claim 20 , wherein the shift assembly portion is slidable in the slot to move the shift assembly between its first position to its second position.